UFC 96 Official Salaries: Rampage the big winner with $385K haul

The Ohio Athletic Commission released the fighter’s salaries for Saturday’s UFC 96 event, which was held in Columbus at the Nationwide Arena.

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was highest paid fighter for the night as he won unanimous decision against Keith Jardine. Jackson earned $385,000 which included a win bonus of $100,000 and a $60,000 bonus for “Fight of the Night.”

Jardine received $55,000 which would have doubled had he been victorious. However, he did received an extra $60,000 as the other half of the “Fight of the Night” bonus.

Total fighter payroll for UFC 96 came out to $762,000, not including a total of $120,000 in “Fight Night” bonuses handed out to Jackson, Jardine, and Matt Hamill for “Knockout of the Night.”

Next up on the list was Brandon Vera, who earned $60,000 in his impressive win over Mike Patt. The Lloyd Irvin jiu-jitsu brown belt earned $30,000 to show and an additional $30,000 to win.

Complete salary totals are listed below. Please not that as a disclaimer that the published figures do not include undisclosed payments such as signing bonuses, locker room bonuses, pay-per-view bonuses, sponsorship earnings and any other forms of compensation to fighters that are not disclosed to the commission as matter of public record:

My only comment is with respect to the fighters on the bottom of the Pay list. I’d like to see the UFC establish a Minimum salary of 10,000 to show / 10,000 to win. With UFC 96 as an example, the minimum salary would have increased the total payroll by only $30,000, and would be good for the fighters trying to scrap out a living.

With respect to the bonuses, since they did not give out a Submision of the Night, I’d have suggested two Knock out of the Night’s. Matt Hamil certainly deserved his, but Matt Brown was a close second, or an arguement could even be made for Shane Carwin.